Jesse White Awards Over $5.6 Million in Adult Literacy Grants

Jesse White Awards Over $5.6 Million in Adult Literacy Grants
     
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White awarded over $5.6 million
in Adult Literacy Grants to help students develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and English-language skills.

“An estimated two million Illinois residents need adult literacy and/or English-language instruction,” White said. “I am pleased to provide funding for 108 local literacy projects that will allow adult students to achieve their utmost potential in the upcoming year. I will continue to do all I can to ensure that
every citizen of this state has access to quality literacy programs.”

Over 10,000 students are projected to be served by adult literacy programs
around the state. A proposed total of 5,600 volunteer tutors will provide training for students to obtain skills that put them on the path to lifelong learning. Adult Literacy Grant projects help Illinois adults who read below the ninth-grade level or speak English at a beginning level to improve their reading, writing, math or use of English as a second language. The Adult Literacy Program is administered by the Secretary of State’s Illinois State Library Literacy Office
and awards grants in three categories:

* Adult Volunteer Literacy provides training for volunteers who tutor adults
17 years of age and older in basic reading, math, writing or language skills. Participating literacy providers may include libraries, volunteer tutoring organizations, community- based organizations, community colleges, regional
offices of educations, schools (individual and public), preschool programs, school districts, domestic violence shelters and correctional facilities.

* Penny Severns Family Literacy provides educational services to parents and
children to enhance basic reading, math, writing or language skills. Programs
must partner with an adult literacy provider, child-atrisk agency and a public
library.

* Workplace Skills Enhancement provides onsite instructional services to
employees of participating Illinois businesses, enabling them to enhance their basic reading, writing or language skills and improve their chances for promotion. Eligible employees must read at or below the ninth-grade level. Grantees must match the grant award and may also provide instructional
services to prospective employees. The fiscal agent and submitting agency may be either the educational partner or the business partner.

People interested in becoming volunteer tutors are encouraged to call or text
the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 800-321-9511.

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